Why I Didn’t Promise Her

A friend once asked me
to never forget her,
to remember to ‘save’ her,
to lead her to Pure Land,
should I reach there first.

I didn’t promise her
because me being mindful of her
cannot bring her to Pure Land,
while it is her mindfulness of Amituofo
that can lead her to Pure Land.

Amituofo is already her best friend,
instead of me,
whether she knows this or not.
He already made unshakable vows to help all.
Who am I, an unenlightened fool to compare?

I might not reach there faster.
Please don’t place any ‘bets’ on me.
I won’t place ‘bets’ on her either.
Let us all just be mindful of Amituofo together,
And he will do the rest!

(The author did not promise her friend as the latter wished,
not because she was uncompassionate,
but to remind her of the importance of focusing
on personal practice in accordance with Amituofo’s vows;
instead of becoming complacent due to an unenlightened person’s promise.)

忏悔文Verse for Repentance

往昔所造诸恶业
For all the evil deeds I have done in the past
皆由无始贪嗔痴
from beginningless greed, hatred and delusion
从身语意之所生
created by my body, speech and mind
今对佛前求忏悔
I now before the Buddha, express regret and repentance

回向文 Verse for Sharing of Merits

愿以此功德
May the merits thus accumulated
庄严佛净土
Adorn the Buddha’s Pure Land,
上报四重恩
Repay our heavy fourfold gratitude
下济三途苦
And alleviate the suffering of the three lower realms
若有见闻者
If there are those who see or hear this
悉发菩提心
May they all give rise to Bodhicitta
尽此一报身
And by the end of this retribution body
同生极乐国
Be born in the land of bliss together